Richards, Gabby lead the Rangers to victory over the Isles

The Good: Brad Richards opened the Rangers scoring late in the first period with a coast to coast rush that ended in a wrister over Evgeni Nabokov's shoulder for the Rangers first power play goal in 5 games. Richards made it 2-2 once again on the power play in the second with a blast from the blueline that found its way into the net with Brian Boyle squarely in front of Nabokov who never saw it. Boyle was rewarded again in the third period that tied it following a Ryan McDonagh blast from the point that once again found its way into the net with Ruslan Fedotenko and Boyle screening the goaltender. Marian Gaborik got the game winner with just 6 seconds left in OT, receiving a pass from Richards who smoked a wrist shot off the post and in the net for the Rangers third power play goal of the game.

The Bad: The first two Islander goals were fortunate bounces that went their way. John Tavares was credited with the first goal when a Dan Girardi clearing attempt in front of the net deflected off Tavares' skate and behind Henrik Lundqvist. The second goal was credited to Matt Moulson after a bounce off of the glass behind Lundqvist found Moulson who pushed the puck into the crease, off of a sprawling Lundqvist's skate and into the net. The Islanders made it 3-2 late in the second when Tavares found Andrew MacDonald coming out on the penalty box for a breakaway that beat Lundqvist to the far post.

The Ugly: The Rangers had to have this game and they did it. With the Penguins creeping up on the Rangers in the standings, they dominated the Islanders in shots and puck possession and were still down a goal heading into the third due to some unlucky breaks. But as all good teams do, the Rangers overcame adversity, tied the game early in the third and held on to win in overtime. Tonights game may be one we look back on a couple months from now that awoke the Rangers from their 3 week slumber for a potential run. The Rangers are 1 for 1 on the seven game homestand and now need to keep momentum going into Tuesday's game against Carolina and the huge showdown with the Penguins on Thursday.

The Rangers need to start playing like its March and not January

2010-11 11-6-1 (defeated by Washington 4-1 in Quarterfinals)
2009-10 10-6-4 (DNQ)
2008-09 11-6-1 (defeated by Washington 4-3 in Quarterfinals)
2007-08 9-3-5 (defeated by Pittsburgh 4-1 in Semifinals)
2006-07 12-3-4 (defeated by Buffalo 4-2 in Semifinals)

Above are the Rangers W-L records for March and April going back for the last 5 seasons where the Rangers are a collective 53-24-15. The Rangers should know how to play in March since its usually around this time of the year when the Rangers have started to make their push for 8th. Where as in the foreseeable past we were never sure if the Rangers were going to make the playoffs, for the past couple weeks more or less since the trade deadline we've been talking about who was going to be the Rangers first round opponent in a 1 vs. 8 matchup.

Well, those discussions have been somewhat silenced over the past couple days with the Penguins in the midst of a 7 game winning streak and the impending return of Sidney Crosby coinciding with the Rangers taking a bad 4-1 loss in Newark on Tuesday.

Starting with tonights game in Ottawa, the Rangers need to start playing with a sense of urgency that they've shown they can build in the month of March and ride the wave of momentum that needs to carry them through the playoffs.

Just to give some perspective the last time the Rangers had Games 1 & 2 at home was the 1997 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Montreal. I know home ice doesn't mean much in the NHL but it would be nice to have that luxury for at least 3 playoff rounds.

NYR hang on against Boston win 4-3 at MSG

I'm going to skip over The Good and The Bad and head straight for The Ugly. It was a playoff-like atmosphere at the Garden and in return was anything but a playoff-like game we are going to see come mid April. Three first period goals combined, as well as 3 fights and a ton of sloppy defensive work on both sides that led to goals unfortunately for the Rangers, their first two goals against. The Rangers tightened the screws in the second period, but that however the period was spent mostly in the Rangers defensive end. If any team ever had a 20 minute power play, the Bruins sure had one in the second period but were unable to get any of their 10 shots on goal through Lundqvist. The Rangers dug deep coming out for the third period and left everything on the ice behind goals from Gaborik and Stepan's game winner to leave MSG today with a win and further distanced themselves from second place Boston and Pittsburgh.

One thing of note: Since Callahan has been out, the Rangers have allowed 9 goals in their last 3 games, well ahead of their season average... coincidence?